Community activists feel emotional shift 5 years after the murder of George Floyd
Five years have passed since the death of George Floyd. The Black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis in 2020 became a symbol for racial justice around the country.
When Anthony Pawnell remembers that day, he still feels anxious.
"I think a lot of the anxiety now comes from recognizing not only the actions that we've taken in the past but then having to study those decisions."
Pawnell, a civil rights specialist for the Iowa Office of Civil Rights, says the tension that came with the demonstrations carried momentum that he saw brought attention to police brutality. Now, he believes some people are out of touch with the emotion they once felt.
"I think a lot of us got caught up in the momentum if I'm being honest," he tells vlog. "The moment that momentum isn't there, the community is left with the same problems, and it has to rely on the people who were there before."
The Iowa - Nebraska NAACP continues its work toward racial equality in the community. It describes the momentum of the George Floyd era as a rubber band effect.
"We did see some gains. We did see some changes in laws," explains Betty Andrews, branch president. "Since then, we've also seen a number of things that have really had a negative impact, and it feels like we are going backwards."
The NAACP points to the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within cities, counties and schools statewide. In addition, Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed a bill into law eliminating citizen review boards for communities that have a civil rights commission.
The NAACP says it's hopeful on moving forward toward justice and away from systemic racism, like biased policing.
"It's not necessarily just about protesting," says Andrews. "This is about power. It's about people and it's about persistence."
Statement from Des Moines police
The Des Moines Police Department is also reflecting on the impacts of 2020.
“It is important to take moments to reflect on events that impact us, and nothing is impacted policing more than the events of 2020, including the death of George Floyd.
It is even more important to not lose focus on how far we have come in the years that have followed, and our path together into the future .
Our commitment to the relationships that have proven successful and to the new partnerships that we build daily in our neighborhoods has never been stronger. We pledge to bring you safety, justice, and respect.
Challenges will certainly come, and we are honored to work with our community to build the Des Moines that we can all be proud to call home."
- Chief Michael McTaggart
City of Des Moines statement, initiatives
The city of Des Moines provided a list of initiatives it has enacted in recent years, including some in the wake of Floyd's death.
You can find the city's statement and initiatives list .